Ruling party blocks impeachment vote against South Korean president
South Korea’s ruling party has opted to boycott the vote regarding the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The ruling party in South Korea has decided to boycott the vote regarding the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, following his brief imposition of martial law earlier this week. This walkout resulted in the motion being dismissed due to an insufficient number of votes. As reported by the South Korean news agency Yonhap, only three members from Yoon’s People Power Party participated in the voting at the National Assembly.
During the session, the members of the PPP had actively participated in a re-vote on a proposal calling for a special counsel investigation into corruption allegations involving first lady Kim Keon Hee, which ultimately did not pass. However, when it was time to vote on the president’s impeachment, almost all PPP members exited the main hall.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Woo Won-shik, representing the main opposition Democratic Party, urged the PPP lawmakers to return. “You must vote. That is the duty of a patriot, a National Assembly member of the Republic of Korea and an institution that represents the people,” Woo insisted, but his appeals were disregarded.
Following the departure of the PPP, which holds 108 seats in the legislature, only 195 MPs remained to participate in the vote. To successfully impeach Yoon, at least 200 votes from the 300 members of parliament were needed.
The next opportunity for South Korean lawmakers to cast their votes on the impeachment is scheduled for Wednesday, December 11.
On the same day, President Yoon made his first public address since the onset of the crisis, expressing that he was “deeply sorry” for having imposed martial law and promising to refrain from such actions in the future. Yoon affirmed, “I will not avoid legal and political responsibility” for his decisions and stated that he would “entrust my party with methods to stabilize the political situation, including the remainder of my term.”
On Tuesday, Yoon had unexpectedly announced martial law during a televised address, citing the opposition’s alleged preparations for a “rebellion” and accusing them of being sympathetic toward North Korea.
Within hours, 190 lawmakers who managed to reach the National Assembly despite military barriers voted unanimously to revoke the decree. Following the president’s actions, thousands of citizens took to the streets in protest.
Less than six hours after declaring martial law, Yoon announced that he would retract his decision.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
During the session, the members of the PPP had actively participated in a re-vote on a proposal calling for a special counsel investigation into corruption allegations involving first lady Kim Keon Hee, which ultimately did not pass. However, when it was time to vote on the president’s impeachment, almost all PPP members exited the main hall.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Woo Won-shik, representing the main opposition Democratic Party, urged the PPP lawmakers to return. “You must vote. That is the duty of a patriot, a National Assembly member of the Republic of Korea and an institution that represents the people,” Woo insisted, but his appeals were disregarded.
Following the departure of the PPP, which holds 108 seats in the legislature, only 195 MPs remained to participate in the vote. To successfully impeach Yoon, at least 200 votes from the 300 members of parliament were needed.
The next opportunity for South Korean lawmakers to cast their votes on the impeachment is scheduled for Wednesday, December 11.
On the same day, President Yoon made his first public address since the onset of the crisis, expressing that he was “deeply sorry” for having imposed martial law and promising to refrain from such actions in the future. Yoon affirmed, “I will not avoid legal and political responsibility” for his decisions and stated that he would “entrust my party with methods to stabilize the political situation, including the remainder of my term.”
On Tuesday, Yoon had unexpectedly announced martial law during a televised address, citing the opposition’s alleged preparations for a “rebellion” and accusing them of being sympathetic toward North Korea.
Within hours, 190 lawmakers who managed to reach the National Assembly despite military barriers voted unanimously to revoke the decree. Following the president’s actions, thousands of citizens took to the streets in protest.
Less than six hours after declaring martial law, Yoon announced that he would retract his decision.
Sanya Singh contributed to this report for TROIB News
